Question on reproduction ?

[TK2]

Hi All,

I know female reptiles ( monitors in this case) can store sperm for a long time and was wondering if anyone knows -

Do they use all available stored sperm during their next cycle or can they hold some back for subsequent cycles ?

Thanks,

TK

[Linds]

I'm not well versed in the breeding habits of many lizards out there, but leopard geckos and the like only need one session and can produce up to 24 fertile clutches. As for snakes, I remember a thread on this topic several years ago. There was a reported case of sperm retention in females in one rattlesnake and some sort of colubrid I believe it was. As far as I know there have been no reports of this happening with boas or pythons. Hopefully someone else with better knowledge of the topic will be able to give you a better answer than I did. Take care.

[gonesnakee]

I can guarantee that certain colubrids such as corns can retain sperm. I know this is fact from personal experience where a corn that had been peviously bred & laid her eggs etc. laid a second clutch without being with a male & 6/18 were fertile & hatched. If she couldn't retain sperm it must of been an act of God, because it happened & its happened to plenty of others keepers also. I have also read of a case where a long term captive rattlesnake had a single baby without any breeding. The rattlesnake had been kept for 7 years by buddy & had never seen another snake, let alone a male in that time. One day he looked & she had given birth to a single baby. She would have had to retained that sperm for 7 years in order for that to be possible. I really wish I could remember where I read this. It may have been in a Barron's book, but who knows. I did read it for sure, but it is hard to believe. In my experience she only had to retain the sperm for a couple of months or so, 7 years seems like a long time. Can anyone tell us where the rattlesnake article orginates?? Mark I.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Actually, I don't think that monitors can store sperm for all that long. The pH in the females oviduct does not allow for it. You'll have to talk to a Mr. Frank Retes for answers on that one.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yes!

Frank piped up and there's no sperm storage. I was a little worried I gave you bad advice.

Whew!

[TK2]

Thanks to all for your input